|
Police in St. Louis, Missouri, said they made more than 80 arrests Sunday after some people smashed store windows following what had been a peaceful protest against the acquittal of a former officer in the shooting death of a black man. Police Chief Larry O'Toole told reporters early Monday that some people assaulted officers and threw rocks at them. "We're in control, this is our city, and we're going to protect it," O'Toole said. Mayor Lyda Krewson spoke of the difference between those who caused damage at night and the daytime protesters who rallied again peacefully in response to Friday's verdict in the case of former officer Jason Stockley. "Today we saw again that the vast majority of protesters are nonviolent, but for the third day in a row the days have been calm and the nights have been destructive," Krewson said. "After the demonstrations, organizers announced that the daytime protest was over, but a group of agitators stayed behind, apparently intent on breaking windows and destroying property." Stockley had been charged with the killing of Anthony Lamar Smith after a car chase in 2011. Prosecutors alleged Stockley also planted a gun on Smith's body, and that video from his car captured the officer saying during the chase that he was going to kill Smith. The judge in the case said the prosecution had failed to prove the shooting was not a justified use of force in self-defense. | 
